Working the Chinese finishing nets in Cochin, India

Leg rower in Inle Lake, Myanmar. Leg rowing, only practiced by men, evolved as the lake is covered by reeds and floating plants, making it difficult to see above them while sitting. Standing provides the rower with a view beyond the reeds.

Trapping fish in bamboo baskets, Majuli Island, India

From October to June, seasonal salt workers in the Great Rann of Kutch harvest up to 76 percent of the salt produced in India working under grueling conditions. Salt workers have severe health problems and rarely live more than 60 years.

Dus Village, Omo Valley Ethiopia. Animal husbandry plays an important role in rural economies. The Kara tribe members are pastoralists and are focused on the raising of goats, sheep and some cattle.

Bagon, Myanmar. Farmers raise cattle and goats.

Lalibela, Ethiopia. Farmers use traditional plows and oxen to plow their fields

Harvesting tea in a tea plantation in Mon, India

Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. The weaving industry is expanding in many poor countries targeting women from marginalized communities to empower them to live better lives.

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An important part of Bhutanese culture and tradition is handmade paper making. Historically paper has been made to provide Buddhist monasteries with paper for woodblock and manuscript books, and for writing prayers and mantras. Today handmade paper making continues to preserve and promote this age-old tradition, as well as to create stationery and greeting cards.

Woodworker in Poshina, India.

The Bhaktapur District of Kathmandu valley has been known for centuries for its clay art. Clay pots have great importance in Nepalese society in daily life and in rituals.

The Chouara Tannery in Fez, Morocco is almost a thousand years old. Hides of cows, sheep, goats, and camels are processed in numerous stone vats filled with different colored dyes and various liquids to soften the skin. The entire leather production process involves manual labor only and no modern machinery is used. These methods are have not changed since medieval times.

Shoe repair in Trinidad, Cuba.

Nail Salon in Trinidad, Cuba

Barber shop in Jaisalmer, India

Dhobi Ghat is Mumbai‘s 140-year-old, open-air laundromat. An estimated half a million pieces of clothing are processed each day.

Laundry processing and ironing in Mumbai, India

Small sewing and tailoring shops abound in Jaipur, India.

Making iron pots in Jaipur, India.

In India, chai is part of the rhythm of life and Chai wallahs (a person who makes and sells tea) are plentiful. They brew their chai fresh all day using tea, ginger root, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, black pepper, and many other spices depending on the region. Mumbai, India

Worker in a machine shop in Battembang, Cambodia